Chief Development Officer

Rock The Street, Wall Street

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Job Summary

The Chief Development Officer will lead corporate, foundation, and individual giving initiatives for Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS). The Chief Development Officer will be responsible for planning and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies and collaborating with donor development colleagues to secure essential funding, supporting team members in cultivating and maintaining donor relationships, and driving efforts to attract new donors in innovative and compelling ways. The Chief Development Officer will be at the forefront of RTSWS’s mission to reshape the future by introducing high school girls and university women to the dynamic world of financial and investment math. The Chief Development Officer will develop strategic partnerships and secure funding that propel the mission and impact of RTSWS—fostering a new era of investment literacy and forging an innovative talent pipeline for the industry.

 

Rock The Street, Wall Street, a high impact nonprofit, empowers underrepresented high school girls and university women by bringing the M in STEM to life through a focus on Financial & Investment fundamentals. It provides industry access and guidance to its students and alumnae supporting their journey from classrooms to careers while fostering expanded participation in the capital markets and economic activities. After enjoying a thriving 25-year tenure on Wall Street, Maura Cunningham founded Rock The Street, Wall Street with a mission to empower young women and amplify diversity in an industry that propelled her forward as a first-generation college graduate. With unwavering determination, foresight, and collaboration with industry leaders, RTSWS is not only expanding the talent pipeline but also advancing alongside its high school students through the innovative platform of its Alumnae & Career Center. RTSWS delivers top tier educational experiences to break barriers and foster participation in the capital markets and financial workforce, dedicated to empowering young women with equal access. Research indicates that girls in the US, UK, and Canada perform on par with boys in math during elementary and middle school, but their performance wanes significantly in high school and secondary school, and beyond, known as the “gender gap.” Contributing factors include societal biases, lack of female role models in math-related fields, and gender-based socialization. It is important to recognize that this gap varies across regions and cultures. However, solutions are evident. Research affirms that interventions boosting girls’ math and science interest yield positive results in narrowing the gender gap. Urgent action is essential to reshaping the trajectory for girls in math, spanning schools, companies, and homes. RTSWS’ initiatives revitalize girls’ enthusiasm for math within a pivotal life phase, as they make vital choices. At this crossroads of financial independence, college decisions, and career paths, the time to make a difference is now.

The transformation begins with active early intervention, equipping diverse high school girls with the M in STEM and indispensable tools of finance, emphasizing investment and financial fundamentals rooted in the power of mathematics. Through the unwavering commitment of dedicated firms and female investment mentors and volunteers, students envision pathways to leadership and find empowerment, camaraderie, and support among peers who share their backgrounds. This active engagement builds confidence and widens horizons to successful careers in finance. Furthermore, in collaboration with esteemed partner firms, RTSWS steadfastly propels alumnae through university, internships, and the pivotal early stages of their careers via the robust Student & Alumnae Career Center, ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing mentorship. Through RTSWS classroom curriculum, mentoring, and Alumnae Leadership Series, the organization has served more than 7,500 girls over the past 10 years with industry volunteers, school champions, and sponsors. With more than 1,000 young women entering the workforce through internships and entrylevel positions often posted to the RTSWS Alumnae & Career Center, RTSWS is expanding the talent pipeline and making a real impact for talented young women.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS The Chief Development Officer will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Ashley Leftwich. The Chief Development Officer will oversee a team of approximately three staff members.

Job Responsibilities

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES The Chief Development Officer will

• develop and implement an innovative and comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with the mission, goals, and programming of RTSWS;

• partner with the Chief Executive Officer, the Founder, and senior leadership to foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization;

• identify and cultivate productive relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations aligned with the mission of RTSWS, both nationally and globally, with the ability and desire to provide philanthropic support personally or through their own philanthropic networks and resources;

• serve as the lead fundraiser for the organization, partnering with leadership as needed, carrying a portfolio of high value donors and prospects and leading by example as an exemplary fundraiser;

• identify and cultivate dynamic and strategic partnerships and alliances with key stakeholders including forward-thinking corporations, foundations, and grassroots influencers with the ability and desire to further the organization’s vision and amplify its impact;

• using innovative fundraising techniques and leveraging digital platforms, design, execute, and assess campaigns, events, and other immersive experiences that generate and increase financial support and introduce new sources of contributed revenue in support of RTSWS programs;

• develop, oversee, and assess a stewardship and gift recognition program, rooted in current and emerging best practices, that ensures exceptional donor cultivation, recognition, engagement, and retention through tailored strategies and tactics that nurture long-term support;

• produce reports on fundraising progress for internal and external stakeholders that provide insight into fundraising progress, trends in giving, and the RTSWS donor profile; and • partner with marketing and communications staff to create collateral and materials that offer compelling narratives for support.

Qualifications

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS Rock The Street, Wall Street seeks a Chief Development Officer with

• a commitment to the mission of Rock The Street, Wall Street—to provide high quality education that breaks barriers and fosters inclusivity in the capital markets and financial workforce, dedicated to empowering young women with equal footing;

• a background in, or deep familiarity with, Wall Street and an understanding the language and culture of “The Street” as the key supporters of RTSWS are associated with Wall Street;

• experience developing and implementing comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategies that further organizational goals and programs; 5 • an ability to respond to current and emerging trends in philanthropy—to implement, assess, and pivot as necessary to ensure a fundraising program that is innovative and nimble;

• experience partnering with leadership as well as internal and external stakeholders to develop and nurture a culture of philanthropy that engages staff throughout the organization and leverages the time, talent, and resources of board members and volunteers;

• experience as a frontline fundraiser—identifying, cultivating, closing, and stewarding gifts with significant institutional impact across multiple verticals (individual, corporate, foundation);

• superior relationship-building skills and an ability to develop meaningful and productive partnerships across organizations and externally with diverse stakeholders;

• exceptional communication skills across multiple platforms and audiences; • an ability to recruit, lead, mentor, and retain a team of high-performing frontline fundraisers;

• an understanding of the financial industry sector and an ability to acquire financial industry fluency within a short period of time; and

• an ability to develop fundraising metrics, budgets, reports, and gift tracking information for internal and external stakeholders.

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least seven years of experience, including management responsibilities, in nonprofit fundraising is preferred for this role Knowledge of and interest in the financial services industry is highly desired in this role. Rock The Street, Wall Street will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to RTSWS, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Rock The Street, Wall Street as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

To apply for this position, visit: Chief Development Officer, Rock The Street, Wall Street.

Details

• Date Posted: June 5, 2025
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Fundraising / Revenue Development
• Service Area: Education
• Start Date: 07/01/2025
• Salary Range: $120,000-$130,000 annually
• Working Hours: M-F; 40 hours per week